Welcome to the middle path

Sporadic photos and notes from a Psyche-midwife, cheerleader, anthropologist--aka clinical social worker in therapy practice. Photos are usually mine except for those of historical events/famous people. Music relevant to the daily topic is often included in a web video embedded below the blog. Click on highlighted links in the copy to get to source or supplemental material. For contact information, see my website @ janasvoboda.com or click on the button to the right below. Join in the conversation.

Monday, January 20, 2014

January 20th Challenge: Carry on the work of Dr. King

We come, we go from this planet, this life. What can we leave behind? Less mess, less trouble, more love if we're lucky. And maybe, like Dr. King, we encourage others to pick up our work, in order the good work never dies.

As we contemplate the good work of a brave man in a short life, as we see how he lives today through his earlier hard work, may we be inspired to follow in his call to social justice taught, encouraged and delivered by non-violent perseverance and deep respectful love and belief in the inherent dignity of all peoples. Here is some food for thought. I hope you take it in and turn it into action. There are several public and private opportunities to do that today in his honor, and I hope you will find a way, public or otherwise, to get your heart in the world, do brave and good things, wide your circle of care in whatever way makes best use of your skills. Look on line for "Make a Difference" day opportunities, or contact the senior center, red cross, youth or homeless shelter or other agencies serving the needy and see you can do to lighten the load.

If nothing else, today's a great day to look people in the eye and smile, to show concern to someone suffering, to offer aid to those who are cold, or hungry or discouraged. If you need suggestions, there's ton on the web, but you can also e me for other details.
Quotes from King to get you thinking and hopefully moving:

”An individual has not started living until he can rise above the
narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns
of all humanity.””I am convinced that love is the most durable power in the world. It is
not an expression of impractical idealism, but of practical realism.
Far from being the pious injunction of a Utopian dreamer, love is an
absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. To return hate
for hate does nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the
universe. Someone must have sense enough and religion enough to cut off
the chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done through love.”

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.

Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle
for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater
nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”March for Integrated Schools, April 18, 1959.“If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become
ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race,
our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a
world perspective.”Christmas sermon, Atlanta, Georgia, 1967.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are
caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment
of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”Letter from Birmingham, Alabama jail, April 16, 1963.

“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have
three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their
minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.”Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, 1964

“It is not enough to say ‘We must not wage war.’ It is necessary
to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on
the negative expulsion of war, but the positive affirmation of peace.”Anti-War Conference, Los Angeles, California, February 25, 1967.

Sit thoughtfully with your readings, or discuss with a friend. Find where the call is striking your heart to move into action. Maybe it won't happen on the holiday-- maybe today's the day you plan how to make this call to love and struggle for justice an ongoing part of your life.

We may make our traditional mulitiracial cookies to take to the firefighters, nurse and other community helpers that won't be available for other community actions. And I signed up for the climate summit at OSU occurring in a couple weeks. My big goal tomorrow is to practice unconditional love and practical realism the best I can. It's my way of keeping Dr. King's work a living, breathing presence in the world.

What will you do to carry your part of the load? Quotes of the day ^.
Song of the day: